Missing out on Euro title will add insult to injury for crock Howell

Wednesday 25 October 2006 11:37 BST

David Howell is ready to risk millions of pounds in prize-money for the chance to be crowned Europe's No 1 golfer.

The English Ryder Cup star, in Spain for the Volvo Masters, is nursing a shoulder injury and knows rest is the only cure if he wants to contest tournaments in Shanghai, Sun City and Hawaii in next two months.

But the lure of winning the Order of Merit is proving too strong for Howell, who is trying to catch Merit leader Paul Casey, with Padraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson also in contention going into the final event of the European Tour.

Howell admits not playing is the sensible option but he fears that he may never get such a good chance again to go for a title which is not worth a penny but is rich in prestige.

Initially he was not optimistic about being fit to tee off this morning, saying: 'My chances of playing are only 50-50. There are plenty more big events to play in this year and I wouldn't want to be having two months off injured. So I'm struggling to make a wise decision - which would probably be to go home and just admit that I'm not fit.

'It's pretty stressful, pretty depressing and obviously I have been thinking about it a lot. Because the other side of the coin is that if I pull out I might never get into the position again in future where I could win the Order of Merit.'

Several hours later, however, Howell's mood changed considerably after a visit to the practice range with caddie Mick Doran. In a 45-minute workout he hit a few dozen golf balls, his first for 10 days, and the absence of excessive pain from his shoulder almost persuaded him to play today.

Howell will wait until this morning to see if his shoulder shows any reaction but last night he was clearly more buoyant saying: 'It felt OK, I might just surprise everyone and play.'

However, with Howell likely to pull out at any time before Sunday, he is the outsider of four to win the Order of Merit, which Colin Montgomerie has won a record eight times.

Karlsson also has only a slim chance as he starts today in the chase for the £446,000 first prize about £275,000 adrift of Casey. Not only does the Swede have to win, but he needs a complete collapse from his rivals.

Casey said: 'I really feel great sympathy for David. He's one of my best mates and I truly believe he should be leading this. I think he would be a long way ahead if we had seen a healthy David Howell all year. When you beat somebody who's injured it's kind of a hollow victory.'

Even if Howell plays, Casey regards Harrington as the biggest threat to his chances of staying on top of the money list. He is paired with the Irishman in the first round and said: 'I see him as a guy I always sort of need to chase.

'But I've really got to worry about myself. It's not motor-racing where you can block another guy.

'My goal is to put myself into contention on Sunday. There's nothing I can do in terms of how the other guys play. If I win the event that takes care of it.'

Harrington came second in the Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002 and third in the following two years.

His best chance was in 2002 when he trailed Retief Goosen by only £17,000 but on the first hole incurred a two-stroke penalty for repairing a pitch mark which was not on the putting surface. It was a self-inflicted blow from which he never recovered.

This year he trails Casey by £147,000 and admitted: 'I'd like to be a lot closer to Paul. I think it's a lot to make up.'